Date: Wed, 01 Oct 97 14:35:59 EDT
From: "Phil Attey"
Subject: HRC Welcomes Bishops' Pastoral Letter
________________________________________________________
NEWS from the
Human Rights Campaign
1101 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
email: hrc@hrc.org
WWW: http://www.hrc.org
________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1997
HRC WELCOMES PASTORAL LETTER, LAUDS CATHOLIC BISHOPS
FOR SEEKING COMMON GROUND, OPPOSING DISCRIMINATION AND
ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO ACCEPT THEIR GAY LOVED ONES
Pastoral Letter Recognizes That 'Faith Asks Fairness of Us All'
READ THE BISHOPS'LETTER ONLINE
WASHINGTON -- A pastoral letter released today by the U.S. Catholic
Conference encouraging families to accept their gay loved ones and
reaffirming the basic human rights of gay people was welcomed by the Human
Rights Campaign as an important step forward on the road to ending
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
"This is another milestone on America's journey toward common
ground where faith, family and fairness go together," said HRC Executive
Director Elizabeth Birch. "The letter is a much-needed reminder to American
families that people of faith can disagree without being disagreeable --
and that families have a moral obligation to treat all people, including
their gay loved ones, with fairness, respect and dignity."
The letter is entitled "Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to
Parents of Homosexual Children and Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers," and
it contains several important messages, according to Birch.
The letter reaffirms an earlier call for all Christians to work to
end discrimination against gay people; recognizes the mounting evidence
that a person's sexual orientation is not a matter of choice; encourages
families to be accepting and supportive of their gay loved ones even as
they are working through areas of confusion and disagreement over the
difficult issues that arise when gay people come out to their families.
It also reminds parents that gay people often face violence and
discrimination, and emphasizes how crucial it is for parents to accept
their gay children. In addition, the letter encourages pastors to welcome
gay people within communities of faith, and encourages both parents and
children to be patient, fair and honest with each other and rise above the
temptation to reject each other when challenging issues arise.
Birch noted HRC's disagreement with some aspects of the letter --
most notably its unrealistic call for celibacy; she said that gay people
should be able to live full and complete lives. But she emphasized that the
letter's overall message encouraging honest, caring, accepting dialogue
within families, and support for human rights for gay people represents a
faith-based approach to the issues that urgently needs to be heard.
"This is yet another expression from religious leaders that faith
asks fairness of us all. Whatever their disagreements over other gay
issues, they are recognizing that discrimination against gay people is
fundamentally un-Christian," said Birch. "We applaud the U.S. Catholic
Conference for seeking common ground. While there will continue to be many
areas of disagreement, the bishops deserve a great deal of credit for
encouraging families to move toward greater acceptance of their gay loved
ones and active support for ending the unfair discrimination gay Americans
face."
Birch noted that the U.S. Catholic Conference is not only
demonstrating leadership in its pastoral letter -- the bishops are also
reflecting their parishioners' commitment to basic fairness.
Birch pointed to a recent poll that found a strong majority of
Christians (70 percent) -- and an even stronger majority of Catholics in
particular (78 percent) -- believe that gays and lesbians should be
protected from discrimination in the workplace. The poll also found that 73
percent of Catholics would support a bill like the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act to protect Americans from job discrimination based
on sexual orientation, when informed that federal law currently does not
protect people from being fired from their jobs just for being gay or
lesbian.
Results come from a national survey of 1,007 voters conducted Nov.
5-8, 1996, for the Human Rights Campaign by the polling firm of Greenberg
Research Inc. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent.
"The teaching of the church makes it clear that the fundamental
human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must
strive to eliminate any form of injustice, oppression, or violence against
them," the letter states. It also says "Nothing in the Bible or in
Catholic teaching can be used to justify prejudicial or discriminatory
attitudes and behaviors."
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay
political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively
lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to
ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home,
at work and in the community.
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